Streit on Long Island

posted by Kevin Mio at 20h19 EST on Jul 1


Mark Streit has signed a five-year, $20.5 million contract with the New York Islanders.

The Swiss native, 30, scored 13 goals and 62 points in 81 games with the Canadiens, where he split his team between defence and forward, and was also used as one of the team's main shooters from the point on the power play.

Streit, who was the best bargain in the NHL at $600,000, gets a nice 680 per cent raise.




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RetroMikey's picture
Now's the time to sign Ron Hainsey back in the fold with our organization to reunite with Mike Komisarek! Mark Streit, thanks for the memories, I'll miss your heart playing on the team and anchoring on the PP as well. You were one smart dude with those nifty passes on the PP that I sometimes was in awe! Bonne Chance mon ami! "We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"

smiler2729's picture
Where was Mark Streit in the Playoffs??? Exactly. Buh-bye, enjoy Wang's $$$, Mark, oh and all those rabid Isles fans (sarcasm, they have none).

Gary320's picture
Overpaid salary a la max. Great job by Gainey to NOT sign him. I would be pissed if we signed Streit for 4 million. It's too early to give this guy 4 million.. Ridicilous. Mike Millbury must be GMing the ISlanders again..

InGy's picture
I Liked Streit on the PP as a defenseman, rather have him on the wing for regular shifts though. Can he hold down a d-spot full time with the same results? Will NY now have he top power paly cause of Streit? He can definatley push for top 4 D-man 'playing' time. I got lookin at the Isles stats he is the potentionally the teams top scorer, Comrie finished with 49, also when I looked at last years roster they dressed 18 differnt players throughout the season on D. Good luck Streit, someone had to be willing to pay the big bucks for you, I'm just sad you chose the Isles, gonna be a long 4 years brother....

Kythehabsfan's picture
IMO, Streit is a top 4 D on any team in the league, including ours (not a popular opinion these days leading up to July 1st), plus he is a master on the powerplay. His style of play and skill level is much the same as Markov although his toughness in our end is not quite the there. But I think he moves the puck at least as good as Marky. Unfortunately for Streit I think his lack of toughness in his end plus a weak Islanders team is not a good fit. Because of their lineup he might see 20 minutes a game; he needs to be partnered with a strong stay at home guy - not sure the Isles really have another D to complement Mark.

Streit couldn't crack the top 6 in Montreal, and certainly could not in Detroit or Anaheim . PP specialist, with a one year track record for 4 mil a year is crazy. The money flowing for marginal players is nuts.

Forlando's picture
The only way this might come back to haunt us: If Ryder LEARNS how to: 1)puckhandle, and 2)pass, and 3)play two-way hockey, and 4)win one-on-one battles, and 5)improves his skating... In other words, I think we can be sleep well the next 3 years....

Greg's picture
Are you sick? Puckhandle? Have you seen what that guy can do with a puck in the high circle? Clearly you haven't. It's Kovalev-esque. He's got a LASER BEAM. This guy is a goal scorer, pure and simple. The Habs gave up on him SO quickly, yet Gui! is still a work in progress (Gui!, by the way can only dream of having the shot Ryder has, and doesn't possess any of the skills you blame Ryder for not having). Also, we could've used Streit. We could've signed him for cheaper than the Isles did before the deadline.

Ryder has a neat little puck-drag move that fools the defender the 1st time he sees it; after that it's 50-50 as to whether he shoots or loses the puck. In addition, 'pass' is a foreign word to him. Ryder has a LASER BEAM - too bad he can't aim it. He shoots and nobody knows where it'll go, including him. Lats has as heavy a shot. Ryder is 28, did 3 yrs in Hamilton, then 3 yrs in Mtl, and is STILL a defensive liability. Lats is 20 (21 now?), and has more potential than Ryder did 7 yrs ago. Thanks, I'll take Lats any day.

The Teacher's picture
LMAO, Puck-handling is DEFINITELY not Ryder's forte.

Robert L's picture
Well said. I don't think I've ever seen Ryder take the puck one handed, on his backhand, and beat anyone one on one. He did improve on his positioning this season and was less of a defensive liability. Now that's worth 4 million!

nfldanchor's picture
Ryder will finally get respect as a top scorer and will be given full opportunity to play under Julien. He led the Habs with 85 goals in 3 seasons. I guess he will make us pay this year when we face the Bruins. You idiots who don't recognize our mistake in mishandling him all last season will see him get 40 plus goals. He will be on the first or second line all season and will get to use his potent wrist shot on the powerplay and will wreak havok against us. Now Mark Streit is forgotten and his 62 points as a versatile player will have to be replaced . He could play defence or forward and was a fixture on the powerplay last season. With Ryder and Streit gone we better get someone in there that is great on the powerplay. Making the playoffs is not our goal we want to go to the finals. If we don't get a big addition besides Tanguay we will not reach that goal.

G-Man's picture
Ryder mishandled himself onto the bench. You have to try. He stopped trying, so he goes to Boston who has overpaid for him. His lack of team play ability with some of the best passers and skaters in the league this year showed he no longer fit. BG has room for an impact player, something that Ryder never will be. He doesn't care enough. Gilbert

RC-51's picture
all i can say is remember John Leclair??

FORD TOUGH's picture
I agree with you 1000% Nfld.

Hammer's picture
Dear Sir I qoute you "You idiots who don't recognize our mistake in mishandling him all last season will see him get 40 plus goals." I have two questions. 1) Why do you call people who simply give their opinions idiots? 2) Who is "We"?

doug's picture
it's absolutely true that the city, the team, and the fans turned on him extremely early and in ruthless fashion. he was said to be in a slump by ten games in, and asked about it daily. then his ice time got cut. and then he was sitting. he'll make us pay. . . if it wasn't the bruins i'd be cheering every second of it. i blame carbo for his small-minded reactiveness. watch the feb 19th rangers game again. tell me if you aren't a fan of the man. see the way he carried himself. 100% class. it will be hard not to smile when he makes us pay. i agree he's a 40 goal scorer if given the ice time. . . which he'll be given. let's judge this one in two years rather than being clever to say he's way out of his market.

mrhabby's picture
agree . not much more you can say.

JB_15's picture
mmhmm.

Hammer's picture
Welcome to the NHL, where your productivity can drop in half and you get a million dollar raise. They must be working on a different plane than the rest of us. If I took half the year off, was less than productive, I would get canned. Not with the Bruins, where they will give you a raise. The lockout was supposed to get rid of this stupidity, but by the looks of it today, idiots abound more than ever. Now with Streit I wish him well. but paying a one dimensional D man that kind of money, is foolish at best. As for Gainey, he still needs to add some size to the lineup. Maybe some of their big draft picks will come of age, or they still have a few days to go shopping on the FA market, where money is found a lot easier than brains!!!!

doug's picture
Oh, and not to change the topic, but the reason we collapsed in the playoffs and the bottleneck/ceiling with regards to future success is not the team, it's the coach. That's the ONLY thing that keeps me up at night with respect to the Habs.

twocents's picture
Though I will agree that "small-minded reactiveness" is at the heart of the limitations he has shown so far.

twocents's picture
I think Carbo did a better job of handling the team last year than he did in his first year. Yeah, there were still many mistakes but he improved. I think he will continue to improve this year and in a way his development as a coach is on the same trajectory as our core young players. I think that the coaching and management team surrounding him are very supportive and have all grown together. That kind of mutual respect is not common on a lot of teams and I think it will allow Carboneau to continue his development into a very good coach. But, that's just my opinion.

JB_15's picture
If I recall correctly, ryder went to arbitration last summer where he was awarded what, 3 million per year because he scored 30+ goals a few years in a row. Now, he has arguably the worst season on the team, racks up a grand total of 31 points, and gets a 12 million dollar contract. The word incentive means nothing to these players. This is categorical proof that you can be a nobody, (see Finger, Jeff) and be a multimillionaire in this ridiculous excuse for a CBA.

Robert L's picture
Ryder settled prior to arbitraion in each of the last three years.

well, he just got a 33% raise outta the Bruins.

doug's picture
the CBA ain't the problem. human nature is. and since it's tied to profits what goes up, may come down. that's the REAL danger of these ridiculous long-term contracts. not sure how the U.S. is going to identify growth markets when ticket prices are maxed out, many places are at capacity, t.v. rights are maxed in Canada and pathetic in the U.S. that's going to be the funny year: when the cap shrinks by a couple of million. bettman will try to have six outdoor games a year. . .

JB_15's picture
or start the season in places like korea and borneo

doug's picture
damn that was funny, jb

Ian Cobb's picture
Got to go and light the fireworks!!

nfldanchor's picture
The Boston Bruins have agreed to terms with winger Michael Ryder on a three-year deal at $4 million per season. The contract is still being finalized but the two parties have agreed to terms pending the final paperwork being in order. Ryder, 28, scored 14 goals and 31 points in 70 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season. Taken 216th overall by Montreal in 1998, the Bonavista, Newfoundland native scored 99 goals and 207 points in 314 career games. The move reunites Ryder with head coach Claude Julien, who coached him in Montreal, Hamilton of the American Hockey League and Hull of the Quebec Major Junior League.

So happy for RYDER, I hope he has a great 3 years in Beantown!

and the bruins make me eat my words. not the stupidest deal of the day but it adds more fuel to the fire.

In Bob we trust. We will be a playoff team next season. Forget about over-paying for a UFA this year worry more about next season on what we will pay our RFAs Komi, Higgy and Pleks and UFAs Saku and Kovy!

Komisarek is a UFA next season

Exit716's picture
Yes I agree, We flat out suck. We should fold the franchise or better yet, hire you as hockey guru. Habs suck..every other team in the league kicks ***.... Lucky to make the playoffs...blah blah blah blah blah.

"Wishful thinking? So Gainey should throw $8mill, 7-yr contract for Hoss and $10mill for 2-yrs to get Sundin? What do you expect to pay Komi and Pleks next season? Not to mention pissing off Kovy and Koivu who have bled for this team by giving outrageous $$ to guys who have done NOTHING for the Habs? Our Defense has O'Byrne, Valentenko and Carle as 1-2yrs pros. Next season it will be McDonagh and Fisher and you say we need a couple of D-men? For how long and how much $$?

Crosby, Fleury and Malkin are the nuleaus of that team. The Pens are now contenders because of them so they deserve the $$. You're reasoning for getting EITHER Sundin and Hossa is fine but at a REASONABLE price. Not an all costs. I like our D as it is. I'd rather see O'Byrne, Valentenko or Carle given a chance to play rather than a re-tread like Mike Commodore.

Drive_For_25's picture
Ryder four mil a season??!!!???!!???!!??!!! Are all the GM's besides Gainey and Holland insanely stupid??? I really don't like this new trend. What wsa the lockout for? Was everyone just tired and wanted the year off???

coutNY's picture
Well now That Ryders signed with the Boston at $4 they're out of the Hossa running. We can say the same for Edmonton. Just us, Pitt, and NYR

doug's picture
Don't think San Jose or Anaheim or Dallas or Pittsburgh have been stupid either, although I'd have to look at the list. Odd coincidence, I suppose. . . none of the good teams have been stupid.

doug's picture
valid point from a cognitive invalid

Shiloh's picture
I agree with those who call the signing of AK46 perhaps the best deal of the day. We did not need to throw 5 million a year on Rolston or 3-4 million a year on a 4-5 depth defenseman. We will still have money to pick up somebody useful or to stay in the hunt for Sundin.

Hoegarden's picture
Ryder a Bruin. 3 years at , are you ready, 12 million.

twocents's picture
I knew it would be the Bruins. Julien will play him on one of the top two lines and he will have a solid season, and earn his cash, considering the crazy market. I am happy for him but, I still would not have signed him here.

doug's picture
Oh man that one is going to haunt us. The guy is going to kill us. A lot of change, but the Bruins are going to come closer to getting their money's worth than first meets the eye because half of the move is to reinvigorate the passion of fans towards their hatred of Montreal. That will fill seats alone, and is good for the brand. Is he worth that after 2007-08? Of course not. . . but I think he'll end up potting 30 a year at least twice. Great for the rivalry, but wish he'd gone elsewhere. I see a hat trick from him against us in the future. Great, great guy. Can't hate him. But he's a Bruin now, and that's the team I detest most in the league.

SmartDog's picture
Not the worst deal of the day, but pretty close. ~Listen to the smart dog!

Shiloh's picture
Ryder to the Bruins - 3 years at 4 million a year.

Heidi's picture
Ryder to the Bruins. 4 million per season.

JB_15's picture
Unbelievable.

SmartDog's picture
A good day for hte Habs because of what we DIDN'T do. No Samsanovs, no Smolinskis or Breezers. We still have cap space if Sundin decides to play, and if not, we have the space for later in the season when other teams are tight and drooling over our young guys. For me the ONE thing I would like to see is a veteran with some cup rings - Federov for example. Someone late in their career who may not play huge minutes but can mentor and will come at a modest price. ~Listen to the smart dog!

mrhabby's picture
time will tell, time will tell.

doug's picture
totally agree

Good for Streit. And good for Gainey.

Connecticut Man1's picture
Yep and yep.

nigel-ski's picture
Pretty easy to put my (Jeff) Finger on all that is wrong with today's deals... I'm glad that BG has so far landed none of the big UFAs, seeing the insane cash thrown about. Any word on where Jagr is going? Habs rule, Leafs drool...

Connecticut Man1's picture
Pens? Back to the Rags?

TommyB's picture
I think with Jagr now at this stage of his career, if he cannot attract one of these huge contract offers that are being tossed around, he could be headed to Europe or the Russian league to be specific. His earning power in North America is dropping compared to what he could get over there.

Ian Cobb's picture
Andree and I had a wonderfull afternoon Bar-B-Q and first time visit at HIO poster Dave Nixon"S home. He invited us to the Ont. town of Frankford. We met him and his wife for the first time. Thanks Dave, wonderfull time. Now hockey, what have I missed on the habs side of things, did we get anyone or are we staying pat.???

Connecticut Man1's picture
ak46 locked up for 3.25 million per year for 3 years. Considering the insane amount of money being offered, the deal is a very sweet one for us. We may OR may not still be in the hunt for Sundin and/or Hossa. Streit, as you can see, signed for the Isles for 5 years at 4.1 million per year. (No, not a typo... $4,100,000 per year)

Exit716's picture
No, Gainey isn't in a panic situation. We have depth and affordable replacements for guys like Streit.

Drive_For_25's picture
Thanks for the stat LeafsLose09!

RH's picture
Today was a complete joke. Chuck V. said it best down below. Kostitsyn's signing looks ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT, compared to the money being thrown around by most of the teams who've managed to snag a free agent.

doug's picture
Well, count me in as one of the happy people at the end of yet another frantic - and irrationally exuberant - feeding frenzy of a day. The collective insanity displayed by these GMs is really just the product of two factors: (1) a need to compete NOW or place your job at risk in sports, the same factor that makes first term U.S. presidents never do anything other than think in four year terms, and (2) a decided lack of analytical ability when it comes to managing resources. With respect to the latter, these guys have generally failed the "area under the curve" test with respect to the amount of dollars they're throwing at people. $5M a year for Rolston (don't get me started on Finger): OK. Four year term for a 35 year old: STUPID. These old guard GMs are astute judges - at least in many cases - of hockey talent, but they ain't doctors (i.e. they fail to accept that aging will change things: Brian Campbell's speed game won't be quite as tantalizing in 2017, assuming we have enough power to freeze a hockey rink despite global warming, to say nothing that the guy will likely have skin cancer given the environment and his complexion), they ain't mathematicians neither (see Chicago - who has $20M tied up in three players right now, two of them for long term, who will be an incredible drag on the system within three years), and they aren't even hockey historians (i.e., learning from Tampa Bay's focus on three players, a lesson that oddly enough Tampa Bay itself didn't learn). What we did last year was fortuitously dodge a bullet (we wanted Souray, Briere and the contract that will be a albatross in three years, Smyth who is breaking down). What Gainey's done THIS year is premeditatedly dodged said bullet, or in good old plain English, learned from the mistakes we tried to make. Sundin at two years at any number remains fine - Hossa is a total and complete waste at more than three years. To me, the name of the game for GMs is to keep cap space by signing young talent for extended terms, draft well to replenish this young talent, and steal older proven stars like Sundin, Shanahan, Jagr, Selanne late in their careers when you can afford them and others can't. Your young stars are the currency that provides a valuable return to those who weren't patient - you can get the Brad Richards' at the trading deadline, although I'm not a fan of rentals. More importantly, you can get the expensive guys with a couple of years left in their contracts at the trading deadline, and make trades in the off-season for the same. We're stockpiling young talent. Our top two lines are all far above average but lack a superstar and a household name, with the possible exception of Kovalev. Those names will be generated with playoff success, and no one seems to be the least bit excited that we got Tanguay. Our defense is made up of two all-stars (Komi/Markov), one very steady guy (Hamrlik), an underrated cannonball (Bouillon), and two up and comers with lots of upside in 2008-09 and a good showing in 2007-2008 (O'Byrne and Gorges). We have Dandenault for back up - we don't desperately need a fourth defenseman. Our goalie is the consensus favourite for the best young goaltender in the game. Our back-up, should we sign him, was the best goalie not playing in the NHL last year. The only mistake I've seen Gainey make is not sign some of the young talent to longer contracts. Kostitsyn for three years, in this market, at that price, was amazing. It was the move of the day - all teams included. Come next time Gainey needs to sign the young guys getting their first pro contacts for longer at slightly higher wages: Pleks, Komi, and Higgins at $2.5M for four years each would have been fine because you have to have faith that two of them will work out (in this case, all three have). So sign O'Byrne for longer when he comes up, sign Sergei Kostitsyn for longer soon. . . be prepared to make cheaper mistakes in the $2millions rather than taking a flyer in the $5-9M for 8 year baloney. So why are so many histrionic characters calling talk radio and writing ridiculous "sky is falling posts"? Because we didn't do anything flashy, sexy, risky, fun. We're the same today as we were yesterday. We're the little engine that could - if such a description can be made of the league's highest scoring team and the Eastern conference champions - instead of the panicky Tampa Bay Lightning, the trigger-happy Flyers (who couldn't even avoid trying to do something this year WITHOUT cap space), the shoot for the stars (as in all-stars) New York Rangers, who seem to forget there's a cap and it's an even playing field. We're waiting in the bushes ready to attack after the markets correct, though. We'll be in that position with our talent and the affordability of who we can trade in return and the assets in the system we can give up, and actually need to because there's so many of them. These July 1st GMs subscribe to the early bird gets the worm theory. I can't argue with that. But there's nothing in that saying that suggests that the highest quality worm is acquired by that early riser.

twocents's picture
Nicely done.

24 Cups's picture
Doug - so many great points in your post. Personally, I'm not disappointed today (as a Habs fan) but I also think there has been way too much to digest, especially on a holiday. I believe we all need to take a few days and truly get the lay of the land before we make any rash judegments (not to mention that only one of the four big fish have been signed). But all of our thoughts should start with the great outline that you have provided. Thanks for your time and efforts. The Original 24 Cups

Ian Cobb's picture
Great post Doug, we are already a much better team than last year. The kids have another year experience, and Tanguay. You can't bring home the big prize by throwing bucks at it. Just stick with the development program and pay them as they improve. Chemistry and a system makes a better team every time than bringing in a ringer or a hired gun.

doug's picture
i'll put this simply so that you can understand. there exists a single person who is a bigger dummy than those GMs, and he sleeps in your bed every night.

Ian Cobb's picture
All the free agents that signed, not one will ever put his name on the cup, Just bigger letters on his back!

kovybaby's picture
Good luck Streiter, you will be missed. Wish you all the best buddy, and thanks for the autograph!

Dan23's picture
Hmmm...according to my calculations, the Rangers still have $8M in cap room if they want to spend all the way to the top. That leaves them barely in the race for Sundin. Streit was the F.P. Santangelo of the Habs during the regular season, but his playoff performance was nothing to write home about. I wish him the best of luck in Long Island. I doubt the Habs will have a whole lot of trouble replacing MS on the powerplay. We still need that big centre who's willing to stand in front of the net and take the punishment. I'd also be willing to take Sergei Fedorov.

I wonder how Ryder feels right now. Former 30 goal man getting no attention from the media and what can only be described as tepid interest from the GMs. Streit cashes in big and crazy deals are flying around the league and nothing for Ryder. He is either overvaluing his services (very likely) or is getting nothing but low balls.

SmartDog's picture
Where is Trade Ryder? He was right that Ryder was worth much more a year ago. ~Listen to the smart dog!

Lemur's picture
I'd say a little of both. He's got too many holes in his game, and everyone noticed that last year. So he's going to have to either settle for what he was earning last year, or slightly more...but nothing close to what he was expecting. If the price is right, I'd like to see him on a third line with higgy and sergei. I still think he's got potential, he's as bad a skater as tendernesse, but with a killer shot. He's improved defensively, and just hit the 3rd year wall. Lemur Out

C-Dawg's picture
I agree...would love to have him back, but don't see it happening. i really think Carbo has lost faith in him. It's sad, because he was asked to work on his defense, and his plus minus was significantly better, but in doing so he "lost" his offense. If he could put the two together or find a happy medium, he'd have a regular spot on the roster. I see him signing a 1 year deal with someone and trying to set himself up for a big deal next summer.

doug's picture
I think he'll be just fine. He will sign another one year $2.5M deal and will cash in next year instead. He's been doing it every year, and while I like him a lot and find his demeanor terrific, I don't get the sense that much bothers him or that he's necessarily the brightest bulb.

Exit716's picture
Yeah throwing paper airplanes to the crowd in Philly while your team is losing is a great idea...shows real team spirit. Good luck getting a minimum wage deal.

jody1974's picture
man is fletcher lost or what?? doing the same thing jfj did before he got fired. so far edm has done a great job, stole all 3 trades. wonder what type pf money hainsey is looking for now?

Moey's picture
Mike, take a break and put your feet up, pour yourself a wee dram, you've been at this since the crack of dawn. Very much appreciated by all posters at HIO.

TommyB's picture
You know, I think the biggest move today was how you hip-checked someone right off the site earlier today. LOL

Moey's picture
There you go Tommy, a tough D-man to strike fear in the opponent and it didn't cost us a dime!! :)

24 Cups's picture
Moey - sorry, but I've already taken that wee dram that you promised to Mike Boone. I've had a tough day celebrating the birth of our nation. Mike realizes that the news/sports business is now a 24/7 gig and therefore he must keep his nose to the grindstone:-) The Original 24 Cups

So does this mean NYI respected Streit more than MTL?

Lemur's picture
Yes, That's exactly it. But then again, your talking about a team that chose to trade away luongo and keep Dipietro whom they drafted first overall over guys like Gaborik and Heatley. I feel for all you Islanders fans lemur out

jody1974's picture
no. just shows how dumb they are

What do you think Streit was feeling though?

jody1974's picture
20.5 millions omg's how did i get this much money. And where is long island again, lmao

howtathor's picture
Bonne chance a Streit! He would never have gotten that kind of money in Montreal nor would he have any guarantee of playing defense exclusively. Wow, 5yrs. We gave both Huet and Streit a chance to prove themselves in the NHL and now they are cashing in on a big payday.

showey47's picture
I can see tanguay or sergei playing the point on the powerplay. I think that markov will now be the trigger man instead of the set up man like he was for streit, and tanguay or sergei will be the set up man.

Sergei can pass sweet.